Oval-bodied blue-gray fish with small light spots and yellow edges on the fins

Gilded triggerfish

Xanthichthys auromarginatus
Where at Shedd?
Wild Reef
Diet Plankton
Size Length: Up to 12 inches (30 cm)
Type Fishes
Range Seaward drop-offs and ledges with currents in the Indian and West-Central Pacific Oceans
Habitat Prefers ocean-facing areas with currents of the Indo-Pacific

Did you know?

  1. Triggerfish can move each eye independently.
  2. When threatened, a triggerfish dives into a hole or crevice in the reef, then wedges itself into the shelter by erecting the large dorsal spine on its head.
  3. The spine is locked into place by a second, smaller spine behind it. Another spine on the fish’s belly extends to help wedge the fish securely into its shelter.
  4. The powerful jaws grasp the wall of the hole providing additional security. Triggerfish also use this wedging behavior at night when they rest within the reef.